When has gun control ever controlled the use of guns?

by root shed

In the wake of the horrendous Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, many, including the president, are going to demand stricter gun control measures in an effort to help eliminate these types of heinous crimes. My question: what historical evidence is there to suggest that stricter gun control measures reduce crime?

I understand how a person might feel that restricting the availability of certain types of weapons may make a person feel that something substantial is being done to eliminate future massacres, but the truth is that there are too many weapons already out in the streets to make the ban effective. Additionally, even the current proposed ban being brought forward by Senator Feinstein has loopholes in it that allow the continued use of over 900 types of weapons for those who already own them.

Another cry for help is coming from the mental health industry. They say we need to get ahead of these crimes by identifying those who are potential powder kegs waiting to go off and get them in for treatment. Can you imagine the witch hunt that type of legislation would bring about.

Everyone who had a bad day or made a comment that someone felt was “dangerous” would be the focus of a mental health investigation by the FBI. If you think that through to its probable conclusion, I think you will agree you don’t want to be on the receiving end of that investigation.

While there may be some merit in reducing the availability of certain types of weapons and restricting of the size of ammo magazines and getting family members to be more honest in assessing the mental health of their loved ones and getting them appropriate care, neither solution would be very effective. This would be considered preventive care which works well for dental health but does not meet the needs of keeping the deranged from killing untold numbers of innocents.

In the past few days I have heard the comparison from many sources that we insist on protecting our banks and Fort Knox with armed guards at all times, shouldn’t we consider our children more valuable than banks or gold? I believe the only deterrent that will be effective for those who are hell bent on murder is another gun pointed back at them.

Granted, I am advocating a trained professional in the position of armed guard, not just any “concerned citizen.” America needs to set aside its bleeding heart and start thinking of those who end up looking down the barrel of a gun being wielded by a crazed mad man.